Beer Healthy Remark: AP CM Pulls Up Jawahar

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has not taken kindly to the statement of Excise Minister that beer is a health drink. He has warned party leaders to be particularly careful while speaking to the media and keep away from controversial comments.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Excise Minister KS Jawahar was hauled over coals for his remarks that “beer is a health drink”. “A wrong comment by a single leader can have an adverse impact on the entire party,” Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is reported to have remarked while chiding the minister, sources said.

This has not come as a surprise since the AP Chief Minister had at a recent workshop for TDP leaders advised them to refine their language and also strive to enhance the party reputation amongst people. He underlined that one should be particularly careful while speaking to the media and keep away from controversial comments.

The TDP supremo has also cautioned party leaders against being too confident about the next elections. Sources said MLAs were told that the party chief had information about every leader and knows who is strong and who is weak. Each MLA will be given individual reports and they will have to change their working style. The change will have to become evident before the Intintiki Telugu Desam Programme, scheduled in September.

“If you don’t change, I will change you,” the Chief Minister reportedly warned. With this, some of the ministers and several MLAs are afraid that they may not be able to retain their seats.